Proposal for a fair EU agricultural policy after 2020

Align EU agricultural policy with quality

Europe's Common Agricultural Policy faces the great challenge of reconciling society and agriculturefor the benefit of all. For decades, agricultural policy has mainly focused on pushing the internationalcompetitiveness of the food industry. The goal of world market leadership pushed aside societalconcerns for a transparent quality-production, which is fair to environment, climate and animals andpushed hundreds of thousands of farms in economic exits.

EU subsidies such as the flat-rate payments per hectare, which are granted indefinitely per farm byMember States such as Germany and which do not take into account the quality of production,favour large farms and those with the lowest environmental, animal welfare and rural diversitybenefits.

Market rules and trade agreements tailored to the interests of the export-oriented dairy and meatindustry prevent farmers from actively responding to supply and demand and consumers fromchoosing the origin and quality of products. Europe can do it better. For that the AbL occurs.